Strolling up and down Marondera sleepy streets gets lovely when you spot a healthy looking fifty year old man always in yellow work suit, yellow sunhat or sometimes cap, and yellow shoes, behind a nice tricycle written Marondera Bananas, loaded with large, sweet bananas that highlight a great story about his entire life.

So soft and highly attractive with his all yellow outfits, the man, Bigboy Chiremba sells bananas wonderfully as an experienced vendor who has been selling bananas for the past 23 solid years.

The yellow man is one of the most eye-catching vendors in Marondera. He arguably attracts more customers than any other vendors wherever he stands – in town and in locations. Whenever prospective clients look at him, they quickly get attracted by his lovely yellow outfit that corresponds with the colour of his high quality bananas.

Most attractive too, is his personalized trade name Chiremba Marondera Bananas which is written on his yellow work suit and on his tricycle.

“This is my trade name, I have familiarized with and attracted my clients all my life with this yellow colour that speaks bananas wherever I am, and I am doing well” he spoke out in a still voice that speaks volumes about his humility.

Never schooled anywhere after completing and failing ordinary level education, but Bigboy Chiremba understands marketing so much that he wins customers from a distance. “I considered dressing in a unique way that speaks who I am, as a marketing strategy, so that customers can identify me from wherever they are. I think three quarters of Marondera residents can now spot me from long distances. That has won me customers and money. I am smart and people love buying fruits from smart traders.” He added, in a soft voice.

This man began selling bananas in 1992, at the age of twenty seven, after resigning from Guard Alert Security Company where he once tried to eke out a living from. “I joined Guard Alert in 1991 and left in December that year. My dream was to start something of my own. My father, who was farming bananas all his life used to teach me business, and with all my brothers and sisters, we sold various fruits at primary and secondary school. I quit the security job in December 1991 because the wages were not satisfying and I then started selling bananas in 1992.”

The adage that says a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step holds water to Bigboy Chiremba as he started in a very humble way – “I started by selling bananas in a basket. Eventually I bought a wheelbarrow, developed and bought two more wheelbarrows and employed some young men to sell for me.”

From that humble beginning, Bigboy developed and achieved a lot. He has bought two six roomed houses in Cherutombo high density suburb in Marondera. Currently, Chiremba has joined Destiny for Africa Network co-operative, working towards his third house. “I have three boys, so I am working hard to build each son a house so that they won’t have any problem even when I leave this earth” so wise, Bigboy appears to be, against all odds.

Contrary to public perceptions that portray vendors as poverty-stricken, Bigboy broke educational and economic limitations to realize his dreams through selling bananas in Marondera.

Beaming with joy from his banana business success, Bigboy Chiremba designed and placed a banana signage on his houses. Marondera residents no longer know and locate him from his yellow outfits only, but also by his houses which carry his supposedly banana logo – which can be seen on the frontage of his houses from a distance. Bigboy has associated almost everything he owns, with sweet bananas.

Hard work and focus are his watch words – “I have learnt over these twenty-three years in banana business that hard work and focus produces good results. My success comes from that. Kana uchida kubudirira mukutengesa mabanana usaita chiporofita, usaita n’anga, usatengesa muriwo nemadomasi same time – focus yakakosha nekuti ukazviwanza haubudirire (if you want to succeed in any business focus. Do not run many projects same time because you won’t manage).” He said.

Bigboy Chiremba was born in Murambinda village of Buhera in 1965, in a family of twelve. He attended Mudanda Primary School and then proceeded to Viriri Secondary. The now very successful banana dealer accommodates learned people in his houses and gains a lot from their rent. “I am grateful to God, I am not educated. I failed school but today I am accommodating learned people and they pay rent to me”, he said, in a visibly jovial mood.

Well thoughtful in business, Bigboy Chiremba has a hawker’s licence which authorizes him to sell his bananas without fear of the police.  He envisions buying a business stand for a big banana market in Marondera. “I have a vision to own a big business stand for banana market here in Marondera. I do not know if there is an association that assists vendors, but if it is there somewhere, I wish they come to Marondera and assist us to realize our big dreams.”

Bigboy says that he used to get averagely $150 per week in times when the economy was better than today. “These days I get averagely 50 dollars per week. The economy is bad but I will soldier on until I realize all my dreams.”

Chiremba’s bananas are usually all large and smart, usually carried in a tricycle written Marondera Bananas, which begets him more clients than other vendors who sell dirty and small bananas.

The great banana vendor is happily married to Florence Mashingaidze. The couple has three children – and two of them are a bit mentally and physically challenged. “I am making sure that I build my third house, so that each of my children owns a house.